73 – Great Leap (6)
“I… before that, there’s something I’d like to ask of Your Highness.”
“Answering a question with a question… Okay, let me tell you.”
Then I banged both hands on the desk where the duke was sitting and said.
“Your Highness the Duke, by any chance do you know how a cornered rat behaves?”
“Stupid question, but…yes, bite a cat in a corner, in order to live somehow.”
“Yes, we bite cats to live. Didn’t you ever think that I would?”
To be honest, there’s a good chance you haven’t.
Because humans are animals that live trapped in rational thoughts within the scope of their knowledge, and cannot imagine anything other than this rationality.
Even in history, no one believed in the basic common sense that ‘the earth is round’, which was proven 300 to 400 years ago in the West, and Hong Dae-yong claimed countless grounds in Joseon.
This is because Neo-Confucianism, such as Igi-Dualism, which is the most rational idea known to people of that era, claimed that ‘the earth is flat’.
With this principle, the duke would never have thought that Count Ciel von Kreuttel, who had just occupied the territory and had to stabilize it for a few years, would have a crazy idea of giving up ‘territory stability’ and attacking the duke.
Because Ciel von Kreuttel, whom the duke saw, is almost 3 times younger than he is, but he is a reasonable guy who is equal to or better than them, having already overcome more careers and mayhem.
And, as if my prediction was correct, the count and the duke’s eyes began to tremble.
“I have absolutely no intention of entering under Your Highness. Because anyway, if you move back and forth between the independent lord and your Highness’s vassals, the Kreutel family will become your Highness’s vassals before you know it. Seriously, what’s the use of being the chancellor of that bastard’s empire and taking pictures of other dukes? By that time, if you lose Your Highness’ favor, you’ll be like a lion in a cage where you don’t know when you’ll die.”
Right now, I am an enemy like a tiger that is difficult to deal with.
However, strangely, that tiger can communicate with ‘words’ and if they give enough ‘profit’, they will definitely
Read at noblemtl.com
Just listen to what you want
So, the duke and earl must have first enlisted me with ‘interest’ and then tried to make the other nobles in the dukedom jealous of me.
Then the rest of the nobles will check me, be jealous, and do all sorts of tricks under the water.
In the process, there is a high possibility that Ella or her father will be assassinated for a ridiculous reason.
If so, I will be reduced to a loyal hunting dog who must show a more competent and loyal appearance to the duke in order to survive.
Because as long as the duke loves me, they can’t cross the line and check me.
However, since I am no longer the tiger cub that wriggled and crawled under the command of the Count of Nantes, I don’t have to live on a peacock’s leash like a hound.
And, as if my intention had been accurately hit, Count Ghent, who was behind the duke, lost his composure and became angry first.
“Yeah man!! Ciel von Kreuttel, since His Highness the Duke takes good care of you, is there anything you can’t see! Will you come to your senses after tasting the mace of the duke’s family?! Don’t you know that exercising your abilities under the Duke is in your family’s best interests! His Highness personally promised the position of Chancellor of the Empire, and yet we won’t accept it!”
So, I decided to further stimulate the count, in order to place the ‘strongest bluff move’ I had prepared at the most effective time.
Even if I recited exactly what I thought, the count and the duke would be hit hard and shaken.
I bowed my head deeply and apologized to the Count and Duke of Ghent, then continued my conversation.
“Forgive me. However, I am very worried.”
“What are you worried about?”
“Your Highness’ vassals seem to be jealous of me. Because if it were me, I would want to knock off the stone called the Count who was promised the position of ‘Imperial Chancellor’ when a fool suddenly came in and defeated His Excellency Count Ghent and won the war of succession to the throne. There may be some vassals who take pleasure in keeping them in check.”
Upon hearing my words, the Count and Duke of Ghent clenched their fists and trembled.
Because I would have recognized that no matter how the other side responded to what I said, ‘the initiative of the conversation’ would come over to me.
So I opened my mouth to add an extra hit while they were speechless.
“Also, I would like to ask you a question, Your Excellency the Count. Your Excellency has supported the Duke for decades. My father also supported the family as chancellor of the count family for only a few years when the count of Nantes was count, so I know that feeling well.”
In the middle of my words, the Count interrupted and came in and asked.
“How do you feel? Count Kreuttel.”
“The humiliation of being taken away from your position in an instant by a rolling stone, and the feeling of being abandoned like a devoted partner even though you have served for decades. Can you stand under me while enduring that? What about the other vassals?”
At those words, Count Ghent struggled to suppress his anger and responded in a trembling voice.
“If that’s what the Duke intends, then I’ll follow… no matter how many decades I’ve served you, if someone more capable comes along… shouldn’t I step aside?”
I managed to hold back my anger, but it would be difficult to tell me to come under his command ‘over there anymore’.
Because no matter how competent the duke is and how powerful he is in controlling his territory, if he creates an atmosphere in which even the Count of Ghent will not be able to support his opinion…
Because it is impossible to arbitrarily appoint me as a vassal.
So, as if to read the atmosphere, the duke rose from his seat and pointed a knife at my neck as if to threaten me.
Then, very lightly, he stabbed me in the throat, drawing blood, and then said in a furious voice:
“Ciel von Kreuttel! Are you prepared to die for daring to insult Hent in front of me? Insulting my best vassal is insulting me, and I want to cut off your head for the price… If you die, Nantes will not stand still, so I will spare you. No, if you give me one barony, I’ll make an alliance with you.
How is it? I think Baron Crescent would be fine.”
The previous contract was the best scenario for the duke, I became a vassal while maintaining only the territory, and it was changed after seeing that I did not go over easily.
Originally, for this type of contract, it is good if it is just a ‘draft’, and it is natural that it cannot be signed.
Only then can each other say that they have conceded the good they wanted to the other person.
If the other person is an idiot and accepts it as it is, it’s much better.
Therefore, it is highly likely that the contract that came out now is the contract that was originally prepared.
Why, even when someone rips you off, if you ask them to give you 100 million won at first, they won’t give it to you, but if you ask them to give you 1 million won after threatening them with death, it’s a person who willingly gives.
There have been many such negotiations throughout history.
I saved it as it is, and now, as if I’m using my conscience, I’m ripping off the money to give out a little bit…
If so, it’s time to put into practice the old wisdom learned in the United States: shoot scammers first and let them run away.
Of course, if it doesn’t work, you’ll have to use live ammunition, but these people are intelligent people, so you won’t think about getting shot like Schwein, so you can rest assured.
I put both hands on the desk where the duke was sitting, then leaned forward and put my face close to the duke’s face and smiled.
“Your Highness, I didn’t want to use this card as much as we want to maintain a friendly relationship.”
“What way? No, to be honest, the best conditions would be for us to take just one barony and for you to take the rest.”
Then, I said to the Duke with a wicked smile that was as meaningful as possible.
“Your Highness, now I will teach you the true meaning of the adage that a mouse can bite if cornered.”
At those words, the duke and count swallowed saliva and listened to my story.
“There are 400,000 gold coins alone that I have stored in our territory. I made more money than I thought by selling sugar, salt, grain, etc. Without exaggeration, I can paper Ella’s room with gold if she wants. Even then, the manor can be operated as it is now.”
“That, that makes sense…”
“Count Creutel, what bullshit are you talking about? If even His Majesty did such a project, his back would be bent over the money needed to run the estate…”
If someone asks why this is possible, I will answer this.
At this time, salt was a coal mine, and the technology to extract sugar from sugar beets was a technology to extract large quantities of oil from the soil with a little exaggeration.
Besides, considering that the Spaniards’ supply of sugar is unstable, it’s like having a monopoly on ‘oil fields’ because I’m in control of all the supplies of Elaine, Brittanya, Romania, and Franchi.
In other words, now I am rich enough to envy the oil king of the Middle East.
So if you hire mercenaries and go to war, you can hire about 100,000 people for a while without adding an exaggeration.
“Your Highness, nobles have to be extravagant even when they are in debt. Otherwise, they will lose their prestige and reputation. Sugar, which makes food delicious and precious to them, is like life in a way. Couldn’t I have no money holding it?”
Upon hearing that, the Duke and Count began to vibrate their pupils from side to side, as if thinking about the amount of sugar in their banquet.
“After collecting like that, I collected 400,000 gold coins. So, in view of the future, rather than giving up one of the baronies first, I will just persuade the Counts of Romellia in France, the Counts of Calais in Elaine, and the Marquis of Amiens to attack Your Highness. It will take a year, so I think we can train about 40,000 people to enter. If you divide it like that, you’ll only get one county, but well… it’s better than ripping off one barony and starting.”
Hearing that, the Duke looked at me with despairing eyes and said,
“….. Are you still human?”
“I could be a devil for the sake of my beloved Ella and the nobles, knights, soldiers and serfs who respect me. And if you really want, you can unleash the spies and check if the 400,000 gold coins are real. If you do that, out of consideration for Your Highness, I’ll let all the spies live as long as they don’t go into Ella’s bedroom.”
After hearing my confident words, the count and duke just stared blankly at me as if they were ruined.
Now that they seem to have completely overpowered it, I should make a treaty that is acceptable to the two of them and that I can benefit from.
So, with a smile, I made a realistic proposal that the duke and earl could understand, and at least slightly beneficial to them.
“However, it is too wasteful to use all 400,000 gold coins for conscription. And since I have no interest in the position of Imperial Chancellor or Regent, I have no intention of expanding my territory here for the next three years.”
After hearing my words, the Count finally began to straighten his face.
“So, as long as we sign a nonaggression and tariff reduction treaty with Your Highness, I will not interfere at all in Your Highness’ War of Succession. Instead, for Your Highness’ sake, I will block all the Romanian attacks. Also, for the next year, I will only stay in the Blue Fort in the northwest of Baron Creutel. How is it?”
Hearing that, the Duke said with a bitter smile as if it wasn’t bad even if it was this much.
“Write the contract. And I ask again, do you have any desire to receive my daughter on the ‘equal alliance level’? I just turned 20 this year, so I think I’ll be a good match for you… I’ll have a girl named Ella as my concubine…”
“Fine. And I will live like this until this year or next year before I get married. Perhaps you should marry a woman from the Maxburg or Romanian side.”
“It’s so refreshing… so refreshing, then since we’ve come this far, I’ll give the craftsman who makes the costumes exclusively for the duke’s family a dress for Ella, and the craftsman for the baron’s family get a dress for a woman named Chris. . It’s a gift, so take it.”
“I will gladly accept it. majesty.”
“Instead, if you break your oath and leave Blueport next year, you’ll have to pay the price.”
The purpose of my going to the Blue Fort is to make sure I don’t get involved in your stupid battles like the battle for the emperor, and to ease your guard…
In fact, they are trying to create a ‘intermediary trade port that can represent Nantes’ while making port specialties that really rip off the Northern Alliance guys.
But if I say this, I won’t say that guy again, but I’ll accept it with ‘Ciel’s planning an invasion again’, so let’s just keep our mouths shut.
“I will sincerely accept Your Highness’ favor. Also, a dessert called ‘Ice Cream’, which my family made specially a few days ago, was made available to me and His Highness the Duke today. It’s cold as ice, but it’s softer than snow, and you won’t be able to forget the sweet taste again. I will also teach you how to make it, so treat it to the nobles under your command and be dignified.”
Hearing that, the duke laughed and said,
“Isn’t it just dessert, yeski… Trying to satisfy me with something like dessert, you guys are absurd in a place like this.”
**
And while I stayed at the Ducal Mansion for a few days, I took a break while enjoying all the services except ‘sexual service’ with Ella and Chris.
As soon as the negotiations were over, I wanted to go back to Nantes, announce the minimum stability and non-performance, and get stuck in the Blue Fort, but…
If I did, I thought it would be suspicious of the duke, and I couldn’t help it because my honor would fall.
And by the time I left, among the Duke and other nobles, I had succeeded in spreading ice cream as ‘a fad’.
Even if it was an effort to spread it, it was just showing Ella wearing a pretty dress and eating white ice cream deliciously.
Seeing an innocent and cute girl like Ella eating a white dessert deliciously even by objective standards became the best PPL.
As a result, they both said they wanted to try ice cream, and I gave them free ice cream.
After that, they all became prisoners of ice cream.
And I wrote down ‘how to make ice cream’ and ‘materials used’ very meticulously for them and went out.
Even if you get all the rest of the ingredients anyway, since you can only buy the magical ingredients to make ice by melting them in water in the summer, they will sell like hot cakes in our territory.
And this ice cream will be used as a cornerstone to spread ‘impractical extravagance’ to gradually weaken the power of all of Europe, including this dukedom.
Yes, you are my food from now on.